2 words that describe the book―Smart-Ass Cop Thriller

3 setting where the book took place or characters I met

* Setting: New York City, modern day

* Former NYPD Detective, terrorist task force member and perennial smart-ass John Corey returns to face-off against the "one that got away."
* Libyan terrorist Asad Kahil ("The Lion") previously faced off with Corey in The Lion's Game, but the stand-off ended in a stalemate. This time, only one will be left standing.

4 things I liked or disliked about the book

* I liked visiting with my favorite smart-ass cop John Corey. I've been a fan of DeMille's Corey books since I first read Plum Island, and I always look forward to the next installment. There is just something about Corey that I find incredibly amusing.

* I disliked that this book felt a bit tired. I'm not sure if it is me or DeMille, but I didn't enjoy this Corey installment as much as I did previous outings. Perhaps it was the plot, which had quite a lot of "sitting around waiting for the other guy to make a move."

* I liked the intense sky-diving scene. As I was reading, I could totally envision it happening in a movie. (And I wonder if there are any Corey movies in the works? He seems tailor-made for the silver screen.) Perhaps part of my disappointment with the book was that this scene took place near the beginning, and I felt the rest of the book never lived up to that level of excitement.

* I disliked that I found myself actually wishing for one of the major characters to die. After the set-up that DeMille gives, I felt it should have happened, and I think it was a bit of a cop-out to have the character recover so easily. Plus, it would have made for more of an emotional read, which I think the series has been lacking.

5 stars or less for my rating:

I'm giving the book 4 stars. I'm a big fan of John Corey books, and although I thought this was one of the weaker books in the series, it was still a fast, exciting read. Even when he isn't at his best, I think DeMille does thrillers better than most writers out there. For Corey fans, you'll enjoy seeing your favorite wise-ass back in action. For newbies, start with Plum Island and work your way through the books to get to know Corey better. If you enjoy fast-paced thrillers with a smart-ass edge, this book would be a fine choice.